Second-ranked Harding ran for 503 yards and beat the University of Arkansas at Monticello 56-17 on Saturday at Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium in Monticello. The Weevils trailed by four points late in the first half before Harding scored the game’s last 35 points, the Pine Bluff Commercial and Saline River News reported.
UAM drops to 1-7 overall and in Great American Conference play, according to the UAM Athletics schedule. Harding stays unbeaten at 8-0. About 1,400 fans attended the Pink Out game, Harding Athletics reported.
How the game went
UAM scored first. A 13-play drive ended in a 40-yard field goal by Stinson for a 3-0 lead. Harding answered with a 30-yard touchdown pass and a short touchdown run to go up 14-3.
The Weevils hit back twice in the second quarter. Drew Forkner threw 32 yards to D.T. McCoy for a touchdown. Later, Dave Alston broke a 56-yard touchdown run that cut the gap to 21-17 with 2:13 left before halftime. Harding scored again 69 seconds later and led 28-17 at the break.
The Bisons shut out UAM in the second half. They scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, two on runs of more than 40 yards, and added a 59-yard run in the fourth.
By the numbers
- Score by quarter: Harding 7-21-21-7; UAM 3-14-0-0.
- Total yards: Harding 594, UAM 276. UAM split its yards almost evenly, 139 passing and 137 rushing.
- Third downs: UAM converted 7 of 13.
- Harding record: Fullback Andrew Miller’s second-quarter touchdown was the 66th rushing score of his career, tying the Harding school record.
UAM leaders
- Passing: Forkner completed 15 of 24 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown.
- Receiving: McCoy caught 10 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.
- Rushing: Alston ran 12 times for 128 yards and a touchdown.
- Defense: Nino Betances led UAM with 10 tackles. Keyon Clark and Luis Pena each had a sack.
What’s next for the Weevils
UAM plays at Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford, Okla., on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. The Weevils return to Monticello for Senior Day against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Nov. 7. The season ends Nov. 14 with the 101st Battle of the Timberlands against Southern Arkansas University at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado.
Games air on 93.7 KHBM, according to UAM Athletics.
